Modern History Question: Empire State vs. Regents College

Can someone on this board explain to me whether SUNY-Empire State College and Regents College (now Excelsior, like the name or not) were ever related? Or conversely, how they differed? I don't get it: they both seem to have their genesis about 30 years ago as state of NY DL alternative colleges, apparently in the wake of that Carnegie Commission report.
Frankly, I can't see much difference between them. Headquarters for one is in Saratoga Springs; the other is down the road apiece in Albany. Both have design-your-own accredited degrees.
I'm sure they are presently in direct competition -- maybe always were -- but until Regents went independent, both seemed to be state schools of remarkably similar mandate.
What gives?
(And what's the story on the year 1784 given in the Bear's Guide for the founding of Regents?)
Thanks, gang.

Peter

 

HUGE differences. The University of the State of New York is the higher educational system in the state. They're responsible for, among other things, administering the State University of New York (SUNY) colleges, of which Empire State is one. Empire State is a "real," not "virtual," school. The Regents program was quite different.

The Regents External Degree Program fell under the auspices of the Regents (The University of the State of New York), but not SUNY. It was not a SUNY school. It was not "design-your-own." Far from it. The REDP set degree requirements that, while flexible, were clearly defined. They offered no instruction; rather, they evaluated learning accomplished elsewhere. They did this by accepting college credit, military training, non-collegiate training, college-level exams, etc. The METHODS used to earn credits were flexible, but the degree requirements were not.

Empire State, a SUNY school, was and is more flexible in terms of how a degree program was/is designed. But, fundamentally, it was/is a teaching school, not an assessment program like Regents.

Regents went private a few years ago(becoming first Regents College before adopting its current monniker). I doubt there has ever been any serious competition between the programs. One is a teaching school, the other an assessment school.

The date is when The University of the State of New York was established.

Rich Douglas, with three Regents degrees.